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[News] Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0ANN.lu
Posted on 15-Apr-2004 19:20 GMT by Cloanto27 comments
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Cloanto released today version 6.0 of Amiga Forever, the Classic Amiga emulation, OS, connectivity and support suite officially licensed by the Amiga companies.

Amiga Forever is available in a downloadable Online Edition and in a CD Edition which includes premium content of historical interest (all Amiga OS versions, gallery, videos, games) and KX Light. All versions of Amiga Forever include Amiga OS 1.3 and 3.X files and make it possible to run Classic Amiga software (including hundreds of legally downloadable games) on any PC, with special support for the Windows platform, but also compatible with Mac OS X and GNU/Linux systems.

Amiga Forever 6.0 is a completely restructured package which took more than two years to complete. New features include:

- Preinstalled Amiga applications more than doubled (both in the 3.X and in the 1.3 environments)
- Support for hard disks larger than 4 GB, mouse wheel, AHI, MUI, etc.
- Built-in web browser, great for both "safe surfing" and for cross-browser web design testing (e.g. to see how your sites look without Java, Flash or ActiveX)
- CDs are now automounted in real time (includes CacheCDFS file system)
- Built-in CD audio player and media player
- New Amiga ROM and OS files (as in Amiga OS "3.5" and "3.9", but also historical items such as the Amiga 1000 boot ROM)
- New reference configurations (for A500, A1200, CDTV, CD32, etc.)
- More than 10 "First Demos" (Boing, Robo-City, Juggler, etc.) added to 1.3 environment
- More realistic emulation (e.g. floppy disk drive sound, which makes an unexpected big difference in perception, but also required the addition of a good old "noclick" utility ;-)
- New documentation (HTML shared by both Amiga and host OS)
- Amiga Explorer 6.0 software
- New launcher panel with one-click controls
- New Software Manager for easy emulation news and updates

The CD Edition of Amiga Forever additionally includes the following new features:

- Boot from CD option (featuring the KX Light GNU/Linux distribution)
- New Gallery section (includes 1985 Byte Magazine reprint)
- New high quality videos (includes Launch of Amiga New York event)
- New preinstalled games (Mindwalker, Ports of Call, Deluxe Galaga, etc.)

(Please refer to the Amiga Forever web site for important additional information and screenshots.)

Classic Amiga software compatibility is achieved by means of an Amiga hardware emulation layer (configurable to emulate different Amiga models and custom chip sets) and different versions of the original Amiga OS (not an emulation). The Amiga environment in turn relies on host operating system functionality to transparently enable modern features such as up-to-date hardware drivers, virtual memory, WiFi networking, DirectX technology, advanced power management, Serial ATA storage, etc.

Amiga Forever 6.0 is scheduled to be featured on 3sat TV's "neues" show, on April 17, at 18:30 (via Astra satellite), and at the Amiga Party in Maarssen, the Netherlands, also on April 17.

As always, the Amiga Forever Team at Cloanto would like to thank the Amiga Community for its support over these almost 20 years, which made this new version possible.

Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 1 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Ronald St-Maurice on 15-Apr-2004 17:42 GMT
I hope someone AW.net or A.o does a review for this new Amiga product.


People not from the Amiga "community" might even wanna know about this new product. ;)
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 2 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by takemehomegrandma on 15-Apr-2004 17:55 GMT
I am a happy customer of previous version of Cloanto's Amiga Forever. :-)

In my eyes, this is a very interesting product for retro computing on PC's, especially because its live CD boot option. It also seems like some steps are taken towards the "Amiga in a Box" approach, which seems nice, but perhaps one can decide what software you want to install on your computer, or is *everything* pre-installed, so you would have to un-install things you don't want (whatever that might be (if anything at all))?
;-)

> - New Amiga ROM and OS files (as in Amiga OS "3.5" and "3.9",

Uhm, what does this mean? Are the complete AmigaOS 3.5/3.9 bundled on the CD?!??

If that is the case, then: :-O :-O

This would make this product somewhat interesting to many MorphOS user out there as well, since MorphOS still has a few "gaps" (like a complete arexx, amigaguide, and *full version tcp/ip*(!), etc) that can easily be filled through the AmigaOS3.9 CD, even if it's only 68k (the MorphOS JIT is *great* :-))!

Add to that the possibility to run the familiar AmigaOS envireonment on every PC you come in touch with, like at work, etc. Quite nice, IMHO!

Is there some upgrade option for current Amiga Forever CD customers?
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 3 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by top on 15-Apr-2004 17:58 GMT
In reply to Comment 1 (Ronald St-Maurice):
will cloanto get an agreement to allow an AOS4 68k version to run under PC hardware ?

AOS4 already partially exists in 68k code.
Technically an emulation to run the new AOS4 PPC kernel is probably possible. the Other stuff could be run in 68k with JIT great speed.
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 4 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by takemehomegrandma on 15-Apr-2004 18:01 GMT
In reply to Comment 3 (top):
AFAIK, Hyperion will only release OS4 as *PPC only* (which is a good thing IMO).
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 5 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by takemehomegrandma on 15-Apr-2004 19:33 GMT
In reply to Comment 2 (takemehomegrandma):
http://www.amigaforever.com/kb/5-107.html

This puts a lot of focus on "library revisions", but ...

"For the reasons outlined below, however, Cloanto specifically does not wish to claim to be distributing the product known as "Amiga OS 3.9".

When, during the development of Amiga Forever 6.0, it became aware of the fact that the legal status of certain files included in the original "Amiga OS 3.9" distribution was under challenge, Cloanto decided to additionally license certain third-party version 45 contributions directly from the respective developers and copyright holders. While this may result in a best case scenario where some version 45 files are licensed not once but twice for use in Amiga Forever, in the worst case certain files would at least be covered by the licenses granted for Amiga Forever by the individual developers (plus the license which applies to the previous code of which the new version may be a derivative, e.g. Commodore-Amiga code already licensed for Amiga Forever)."

I have read the cloanto explanations, but I am not quite sure of what do I get? Is everything in, say OS3.9, *completely covered*, including arexx and such?
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 6 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Darrin on 15-Apr-2004 19:40 GMT
I just purchased, downloaded, installed and run the "Online Version" and I have to say its a nice little package and looks a hell of a lot better than my old WinUAE WB3.1 configuration I've been using.

One click after installation and you're running WB3.9, and one more click and you're on the web using AWEB. Great stuff.
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 7 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by MarkTime on 15-Apr-2004 19:44 GMT
great job cloanto, now include developer cd with it.

hey, a pre-installed developer environment, would make getting started on an app child's play....

and it needs to be child's play, cause lets face it...well n/m
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 8 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by takemehomegrandma on 15-Apr-2004 19:57 GMT
In reply to Comment 7 (MarkTime):
> hey, a pre-installed developer environment, would make getting started on an
> app child's play....

This "getting started on an app child's play" is what I have been looking for! Perhaps "AMOS" could be considered "abandonware" by now?
;-)

I only wish that AMOS would have been RTG and free of any legacy HW dependencies ...
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 9 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by takemehomegrandma on 15-Apr-2004 20:41 GMT
In reply to Comment 6 (Darrin):
> One click after installation and you're running WB3.9, and one more click
> and you're on the web using AWEB. Great stuff.

Agreed! :-)

So this is *the whole* OS3.9, including the "WB3.5" files on that CD ...?
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 10 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by ehaines on 15-Apr-2004 22:32 GMT
I'm not sure I've ever seen the *lack* of Java and Flash sold as a feature before. :) (Although to me it almost is; normally I turn Java and Flash off even on browsers that support them....)

I've seen it said that OS4 exec has 40,000 lines of PPC asm, therefore it won't be ported to anything other than PPC anytime soon, if ever. Even if various bits and bobs are or can be 68K.
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 11 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Anonymous on 15-Apr-2004 23:24 GMT
In reply to Comment 8 (takemehomegrandma):
amos and blitz are freely available on back2roots: teh source code to both are freely available.

http://www.back2roots.org/Tools/Dev/

blitz is still being updated i believe. amos was, but i cannot find the source or any site confirming this.

perhaps hyperion could at least make the latest gcc available for OS 3.9 for those working on 68k machines, they are still good for development of simple applications right ?
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 12 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Sharakmir on 16-Apr-2004 05:30 GMT
Well, Amiga Forever was in fact presented and released at the AmiGBG 2004 show on April 3rd...
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 13 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Chris Perver on 16-Apr-2004 05:57 GMT
I've just ordered my CD from Software Hut, I'm really looking forward to getting it in the post. I bought the online version a few years ago, and can't wait to try out the new KX lite!

Thanks Cloanto for an excellent package.
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 14 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by top on 16-Apr-2004 08:00 GMT
In reply to Comment 10 (ehaines):
Even if the new Exec is PPC ASM coded, probably a 68k version of an X86 version could be done.
Other apps can run on 68k JIT with excellent speed.

This will allow AOS4 run fast too under PC hardware and generate more profits to Hyperion/AmigaInc and even Eyetech that have given a big investment on AOS4.

Making an hybrid PCX86/68k version of AOS4 will generate more AOS4 licence resells and in that way generate more profits then only dedicating AOS4 exclusively to PPC little market.

More profits will help Hyperion and Eyetech to invest more money in the AMigaOS4 and on the AmigaOne PPC computers.

A 68k version of AOS4 will bring to Amiga community more users. IF the price is cheap, AOS4 will compete directly with Linux in the global growing interest for alternative systems.

PPC market is little and will take long time to grow. PC market is a rapid solution to grow the Amiga community and this will be very benefict for AmigaOne/AOS4 solutions.
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 15 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Jupp3 on 16-Apr-2004 08:50 GMT
In reply to Comment 14 (top):
>Even if the new Exec is PPC ASM coded, probably a 68k version of an X86 version could be done.

What you mean?

That there would be "special" X86 hardware that can run AOS4 (only differences to "standard" hardware being: included hardware copy protection and considerably higher price)

I really don't believe that would happen any time soon...
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 16 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Darrin on 16-Apr-2004 11:10 GMT
In reply to Comment 9 (takemehomegrandma):
>So this is *the whole* OS3.9, including the "WB3.5" files on that CD ...?

I've never owned OS3.9 before. The info option on workbench provides this information: Workbench version 45.3 copyright Amiga Inc 1985-2002... does that sound right?

All the documentation refers to "OS3.x".
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 17 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Darrin on 16-Apr-2004 11:16 GMT
In reply to Comment 9 (takemehomegrandma):
I dug around on the Cloanto site and found this:

>Amiga Forever up to version 5.0 included Amiga OS up to version 40 (Amiga OS
>3.1 by Commodore-Amiga, Inc.) For Amiga Forever 6.0, Cloanto obtained an
>extended license for the Amiga OS versions 44 (product known as "Amiga OS
>3.5") and 45 (product known as "Amiga OS 3.9"). All three versions share the
>same underlying version 40 Amiga ROM, with some patches applied.

>Amiga Forever 6.0 includes the latest version 44 Amiga OS files, plus a
>selection of the latest, most important and most compatible version 45 ROM
>patch and Amiga OS files. For the reasons outlined below, however, Cloanto
>specifically does not wish to claim to be distributing the product known
>as "Amiga OS 3.9".

I guess this translates to "it's almost OS3.9 but not quite". ;-)
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 18 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by pixie on 16-Apr-2004 12:24 GMT
In reply to Comment 17 (Darrin):
>I guess this translates to "it's almost OS3.9 but not quite". ;-)

or 'It's almost 3.9 as legal matters are related'...
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 19 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Darek on 16-Apr-2004 16:09 GMT
In reply to Comment 6 (Darrin):
This "great stuff" exists since years... what you were doing with your Amiga before that you do not know how to make it using a simply AmigaDos script ?
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 20 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Darrin on 16-Apr-2004 17:47 GMT
In reply to Comment 19 (Darek):
The "great stuff" I'm refering to is the all-in-one, pre-set up package that is Amiga Forever 6. Yes, it's all been available for a long time and, yes, I've had lots of neat hacks like New Icons, drop shadow, exploding windows, whatkick, etc running on my Amigas since WB1.2 back in '87.

My point is, that until now you couldn't get a good loooking, pre-configured system that would set itself up on a PC and run with just a simple click. The closest thing was "amiga-in-a-box", but that still needed the user to install his own workbench.

This package is totally "painless", well packaged and worth the $29.99 for the downloadable version (IMHO).
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 21 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Ethan on 16-Apr-2004 21:43 GMT
It looks like its not the complete OS 3.9, I saw the following two paragraphs on the Amiga Forever FAQ page, located at http://www.amigaforever.com/kb/3-123.html ....


The installation of Amiga OS "3.5" on top of Amiga Forever 6.0 or higher would represent a "downgrade". As such, the procedure is neither recommended nor supported.

It is however possible (although not considered necessary or recommended) to install and reinstall the product known as "Amiga OS 3.9" in Amiga Forever.
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 22 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Rich on 17-Apr-2004 00:10 GMT
In reply to Comment 13 (Chris Perver):
Just got my package today. Posting on my laptop using Amiga forever - one hell
of a package.
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 23 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Anonymous on 17-Apr-2004 06:36 GMT
In reply to Comment 22 (Rich):
The cd version ? Your modem has been detected ?
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 24 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Rich Woods on 17-Apr-2004 15:25 GMT
In reply to Comment 23 (Anonymous):
Posted by Anonymous (82.104.54.194) on 17-Apr-2004 08:36:54

In Reply to Comment 22 (Rich):
The cd version ? Your modem has been detected ?
-----------------
Yes - I was going to get the downloadable version - but figured what the heck - might as well get the CD version and the complete package with the videos (brought a tear to my eye seeing the Amiga 1985 Introduction at Lincoln Center).

Running Windows and then loading upo the CD no problems - booting up from the CD no problems connecting AWEB using my cable modem.

It's pretty much seamless and flawless. THIS is the package that should "go gold" - and by that meaning 500,000 copies being sold. It would be great if PC (Windows users) could get a glimpse of the Amiga OS (3.9 is pretty much the latest legally available) and try it out.

For those who are thinking - think no more - BUY THIS PRODUCT. Sheesh - it's only $60 - not like a couple hundred.

Besides - Amiga developers will get paid! And that's a nice thought.
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 25 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Darrin on 18-Apr-2004 01:25 GMT
In reply to Comment 24 (Rich Woods):
Damn it Rich, I'm in 100% agreement with you!!!

(I bought the online version because I didn't want to wait for a CD to be mailed to me. After your credit card details are verified, you get an invoice screen with an activation code, you have 30 days to download a 17.2MB file. It self extracts to your PC's hard drive and gives you an option screen to run the pre-configured OS3.x environment, the OS1.3 environment, a user configured startup, WinFellow, read the docs, browse the directory or check for updates. I chose the OS3.x option, clicked on AWeb, typed "www.ann.lu" and was surfing the pages of ANN on my "new Amiga").
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 26 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Darrin on 18-Apr-2004 01:36 GMT
Do you think we should call the version of Workbench shipped with the disk "OS3.7"? ;-)
Cloanto Releases Amiga Forever 6.0 : Comment 27 of 27ANN.lu
Posted by Rich Woods on 18-Apr-2004 05:35 GMT
In reply to Comment 25 (Darrin):
Posted by Darrin (24.143.3.28) on 18-Apr-2004 03:25:29

In Reply to Comment 24 (Rich Woods):
Damn it Rich, I'm in 100% agreement with you!!!

(I bought the online version because I didn't want to wait for a CD to be mailed to me. After your credit card details are verified, you get an invoice screen with an activation code, you have 30 days to download a 17.2MB file. It self extracts to your PC's hard drive and gives you an option screen to run the pre-configured OS3.x environment, the OS1.3 environment, a user configured startup, WinFellow, read the docs, browse the directory or check for updates. I chose the OS3.x option, clicked on AWeb, typed "www.ann.lu" and was surfing the pages of ANN on my "new Amiga").
-----------------------
I almost bought the online version - but I figured I wanted the video clips etc - so I figured with the extra cost it would take 3-4 days - I oredred it on a MOn got it on a Fri - and the video clips etc and the full version was worth it.

It really is a superb product and easily worth the $60 - virtually no set up to surf the web using Aweb - (running on top of windows) - of course you can surf the web using NO windows - it really is a superb product (did I repeat myself?) - in any event knowing developers are getting monies from this makes me feel really good -

Aamiga users - if you are using a PC - BUY THIS PRODUCT - you won't regret it.

If you are waiting for the commercial release of OS 4.0 - well buy this product until OS 4.0 comes out in full release for the public - (who knows when that will be) - $60 will be paying someone's salaries and bills as developers.

You cannot run Amiga OS 3.9 on a laptop -PC with OS 4.0 - unless Fleecy comes out with more - what sheeplord stuff.

After so much money spent - this $60 is chump change.

And contrary to what people think of me - long live the AMIGA!
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